إنما الأعمال بالنيات

The hadith. 'Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭaab said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى "Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have only what they intended. Whoever emigrated (hijra) for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever emigrated for something of this world he wanted to obtain, or for a woman he wanted to marry, his emigration is for what he emigrated for."

Source: hadith no. 1 of An-Nawawi. Reported by Al-Bukhari (no. 1) and Muslim (no. 1907).

Why it comes first. Many scholars began their books with this hadith, to remind the reader (and themselves) to purify their intention before studying. Some said it represents a third, or half, of the religion, because every action has a visible side (the deed) and a hidden side (the intention).

What we take from it: • Two people can do exactly the same thing, one for Allah, the other to be admired: in people's eyes it is the same; with Allah, it is not. • Intention turns everyday actions into worship: sleeping to have strength the next day, studying to be useful, helping your parents to please Allah. • Intention is in the heart. It does not need to be said out loud to exist. • A good intention does not make a forbidden act good: you need both a right action and a sincere intention.

A saying of the early scholars: some scholars said they had never had anything harder to treat than their intention, because it changes often. So we renew it regularly: "Who am I doing this for?"

And you? Choose something you do every day (going to class, doing sport, helping at home). What intention could you put into it so that it also becomes worship?

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Intention plays two roles. First, it separates worship from habit: washing can be just a shower or the full ritual bath; not eating can be a diet or a fast. Second, it separates whom we act for: for Allah, or for the image we give.

The hadith also has a very encouraging side. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever intends a good deed and then cannot do it, Allah records it for him as a complete good deed (Bukhari 6491, Muslim 131). A sincere intention already has value, even when circumstances stop us from acting.

Beware of one trap: being so afraid of being seen that we stop doing good altogether. An early scholar, al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad, is reported to have said that giving up an action because of people is also a form of showing off [À VÉRIFIER : attribution]. The answer is not to stop, but to correct one's intention and carry on.

Lessons to draw from it • Before an important action, I ask myself: "Who am I doing this for?" • I can turn my everyday actions (study, sport, helping at home) into worship through a good intention. • I don't give up a good deed for fear of being seen: I correct my intention and carry on. • A good intention does not make the forbidden permitted: we need a right action and a sincere intention.

Key points to remember • إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ (Bukhari 1, Muslim 1907). • Intention lies in the heart; a good deed intended but prevented is already recorded (Bukhari 6491).

The main message Allah looks at what is in the heart: a sincere intention gives our actions their value, even the most ordinary ones.